By Heidi Alene Harris, Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education

Children are like sponges and even if we do not realize they are listening, they absorb everything they hear. We know that the focus of every current adult conversation is the COVID-19. You cannot go anywhere without the topic coming up in conversation, hearing it on the news, or seeing it on social media. Children are overhearing bits and pieces about the spread of COVID-19 everywhere. When a public concern of this depth hits it is important that as parents we remember that it is not only impacting us as adults but our children as well.

The news on this virus can be scary, even for us to hear and see as adults, so it is important that we help alleviate potential fears by discussing the virus simply and honestly with children. Children need support from a trusted adult in order to directly communicate and process the information.

It is important to make time to have conversations and follow child-initiated questions in an effort to help them process the information. Follow the child’s lead and respond to their questions as they come up and watch for behaviors that may display they need help to process what they may have seen or heard. Children may respond with a variety of emotions and it is important that we respond with love and attention.   

A few tips for parents on ways they can support children during this time:

• Be Honest. 

• Keep it Simple. 

• Watch Out for News Overload. 

• Adults Keep Calm, Too.

• Practice Healthy Hygiene, such as washing hands. Reading children’s books about germs, such as Germs Are Not for Sharing by Elizabeth Verdick, helps children understand what germs are and practices to prevent the spreading of germs.   

• Try to keep to a routine or schedule as much as possible. During school closures, communicate daily the plan for how the children will be spending their day. 

Mr. Rogers’ mom, Nancy Rogers, said it best when she said we can help our children process scary news by pointing out the people who are helping; the scientists, the doctors, the medical staff, and others. Mr. Rogers said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” 

Our children are watching us and learning how to respond to situations based on how we respond, the best we can do as parents is help our children feel safe during this unsettling time. 

Refer to this parent resource, Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource, from National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and National Association of School Nurses (NASN) for other guidelines and procedures for supporting children.

Join our NEW Facebook group, Toledo Parent Support Group, where the Toledo area community can post local resources for parents during the coronavirus pandemic.

We’ve got this, Toledo!

Life is changing at a rapid pace as we grapple with COVID-19. There are a lot of unknowns as national and state leaders work to combat the spread of this virus. Each day, more things are being cancelled or shut down. Rumors are swirling that students could be out of school longer than three weeks.

As we all adjust to this new normal, there’s a lot to juggle, especially with students home for the foreseeable future. But this isn’t all doom and gloom. Look at this time with family as a chance to connect in a way you may not have had time to do in awhile.

On those days when the siblings are bickering, the laundry is piling up and you’re going a bit stir-crazy, take a deep breath and know you’ve got this! Here are a few ideas to help.

Life Skills Learning

Not all learning has to be about what you learn from a book. Use this time as a chance to teach important life skills to your kids.
Teach them how to follow a recipe from start to finish.

• Teach them how to do laundry. If they’re old enough, show them how to run the washer and dryer. Younger kids can help fold.
• Toddlers can help match socks.
• Have kids load and unload the dishwasher.
• Show young kids how to set the table.
• Teach your tweens and teens how to balance a checkbook.
• Show your kids how to set up a budget.
• Roll change from a piggy bank.
• Teach young students how to set up a Google doc. Then have them write a note to a family member and share it.
• Teach young kids basic (and age appropriate) kitchen skills: how to fry an egg, cook pasta, slice fruits and veggies.
• If you have supplies on hand, work on a project together: paint a room, show them how to fix the leaky faucet or how to check fluid levels in the car.
• Have them help organize a space: their closet, the playroom or basement, the pantry or the garage. (Or maybe all of the above!)

Boredom Busters

When we’re used to being able to go-go-go, being told to slow down and stay in isn’t always easy. Do your best to limit screen time and try a few of these to help keep boredom at bay.

• Bust out the board games. Try classics like Monopoly, Scrabble or Scattergories.
• Put together a puzzle. Set it up in a spot where you can work on it throughout the day and/or week if needed. Get the whole family to help.
• Build a fort out of blankets and pillows. Bonus: let the kids sleep there!
• Create an obstacle course inside or out!
• Play card games: Rummy 500 (or 5000), War or Go Fish.
• Build that complicated LEGO set.
• Make homemade playdough.
• If you have the supplies, make jewelry like friendship bracelets or necklaces.
• Paint.
• Let kids make their own books. Have them create a cover, title page and fill the blank pages with their own fun stories.
• Color, color, color.
• Write a card or draw a picture for a neighbor.
• Draw comic strips.
• Sort blocks or Hot Wheel cars by color.
• Read books together. This is a great time to try a chapter book if your kids are old enough.

Fresh Air Fun

Getting outside is good for all of us and there’s plenty to do in the fresh air. Bonus for incorporating learning opportunities without kids realizing they’re doing school work!

• Make a list of objects to find (heart-shaped rock, giant leaf, wild flower) and send kids on a scavenger hunt.
• Go exploring in the woods.
• Take a hike.
• Grab a magnifying glass and go exploring at a creek.
• Have kids draw a map of the neighborhood and use a compass to follow directions.
• Play hopscotch.
• Go on a bike ride.
• Take a walk. Try a route in the neighborhood you’ve never walked before.
• Break out the sidewalk chalk. Try writing sight words or math problems in the driveway.
• Play hide-and-seek.
• Run laps around the house.
• Do some jumping jacks.
• Walk the dog. If you don’t have a dog, offer to walk an elderly neighbor’s dog.
• Dig for worms.
• Splash in puddles on a rainy day.
• Jump rope.
• Shoot hoops.
• Play soccer.
• Toss the baseball.

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